Bowley and Barnes Tie Up Notts
Wed 6 Jul 2022
By Pete Johnson
It was a good day for Leicestershire on day two of the SEC v Nottinghamshire at Uppingham School, as they put themselves in a position to take control of the game. County were dismissed for 337 in their first innings, and subsequently dismissed the Robin Hood County for 192, taking a lead of 145 runs on first innings.
Nat Bowley, picking up five wickets, a career best for the 2nd XI, backed up by Ed Barnes with four wickets. At close of play, Leicestershire were 44-1 in their second innings, leading by 189 runs.
Leicestershire resumed from their overnight 314-8, Roman Walker 58*, Will Davis 16*. The pair had added 16 runs in the morning, over 7.5 overs, taking their partnership to 49, when Davies (18) 74b was lbw to Jack Peirce.
After a further 2.4 overs, Gavin Griffiths (5) 8b was bowled by Calvin Harrison, Leicestershire 337 all out from 107.3 overs. Walker (72*) 168b. A fine effort from Walker, enabling Leicestershire to post a healthy lead, and building on the excellent knock of 82 from Rishi Patel earlier in the innings. Peirce being the most successful of the Nottinghamshire bowlers with 4-66 from 24 overs.
Earlier in the morning, a century of a somewhat different kind was achieved. I was informed that two of County Cricket’s Leicestershire-based stalwart followers, Rosemary and Chris, were attending their 100th day of 1st XI and 2nd XI cricket this season, they don’t just attend Leicestershire matches as they take in other counties matches as well. If you see the pair of them together, not in close proximity of a sightscreen whilst play is in progress, you have witnessed the eighth wonder of the world!
Nottinghamshire commenced their first innings at 11:47am, Ben Martindale and Soloman Budinger opening the innings. A half-century partnership was posted after 10.2 overs. Skipper Chris Wright having to employ three bowlers during this time, as Roman Walker had to leave the field temporarily after having bowled just 1.3 overs.
It came to my notice that the three bowlers used all had a surname of a current BBC Radio DJ. Chris ‘Steve’ Wright. Roman ‘Johnny’ Walker, and Will ‘Gary ‘Davis. We also had ex-BBC Radio DJ’s Sam ‘Chris’ Evans, and Sam ‘Simon’ Bates in the field. I really must get out more!
Back to the cricket. Budinger was playing his normal aggressive type of innings, and went to his 50 (6x4) 45b, the score on 69-0 from 14.1 overs. Enter Ed Barnes, who absolutely wreaked havoc with the Nottinghamshire top order with an inspired spell of pace bowling either side of lunch.
Budinger (50) 46b went to the next delivery after reaching his half-century when he chipped Barnes up to Griffiths at mid off. Matthew Montgomery came to the crease, and Barnes trapped him infront second ball, claiming two wickets in three balls. Nottinghamshire 69-2 off 14.4 overs.
With the penultimate ball before lunch, Martindale (19) 46b took a fearsome blow to the helmet from Barnes. After prolonged attention from the Nottinghamshire physio, Martindale was allowed to remain at the crease, and successfully negotiated the final ball before lunch. Nottinghamshire 72-2 from 17 overs. Martindale 19* Joey Evison 1*.
Unfortunately, Martindale was deemed not in a condition to continue after lunch due to concussion. We sincerely hope he makes a full, and satisfactory recovery. Dane Schadendorf replaced Martindale at the crease.
Barnes was on fire, bowling with pace, and hostility. Evison (6) 20b was bowled by Barnes, and in his next but one over Barnes also bowled Calvin Harrison (4) 23b. Nottinghamshire 85-4 from 24.6 overs. Barnes finishing his spell with figures of 10-2-16-4.
Barnes had demolished the top order of the Nottinghamshire batting, and Bowley then proceeded to wipe out the middle and lower order with aplomb. Leicestershire had been turning the screw on the Nottinghamshire batting, there was a boundary in the first over after lunch, the 18th, and then not another boundary until the 40th over.
An all-pace attack of Wright, Barnes, Davis, Griffiths and Walker had been responsible for the miserly bowling. Bowley was introduced into the attack to bowl the 42nd over.
With the final delivery of his first over, Bowley comprehensively bowled Schadendorf (25) 66b. Nottinghamshire on 129-5 from 41.6 overs. Nottinghamshire into tea on 158-5 from 51 overs. Sam King 30*, Travis Holland 15*. Between lunch and tea, Leicestershire had restricted Nottinghamshire to just 86 runs from 34 overs, for the loss of three wickets.
During the tea interval I noticed, whilst grappling with a delightful array of top-class food, a regular attendee at Leicestershire 2nd X1 matches strolling around the boundary, immaculately attired in collar and tie, shirt regimentally buttoned to the cuffs, and wearing accompanying trademark ‘ratting cap’.
If boundary perambulation were an Olympic event, said gentleman would be a ‘shoe in’ for a gold medal. In the sixth over after tea, King and Holland, (still on the ex-BBC Radio DJ theme, Jonathan and Jools!) brought up their 50 partnership (89 balls), the score on 179-5 from 56.5 overs.
Nottinghamshire were only able to add a further 13 runs to their total as a result of being bewildered by Bowley. Holland (26) 59b struck a delivery from Bowley to short leg, it cannoned off the helmet of Sam Evans, ballooned up into the air for keeper Harry Swindells to pouch the catch. Nottinghamshire 185-6 from 59.4 overs.
Fateh Singh (4) 5b was mesmerized by Bowley, who flighted one into his stumps, and in his next over Bowley had King (48) 111b caught in the extra cover area by Wright. Nottinghamshire 192-8 from 63.3 overs.
Bowley then recorded his best figures for the 2nd XI when he had Peirce (0) 4b expertly stumped by Swindells. I had to have a close look at the dismissal just to check that John Travolta had not replaced Swindells behind the stumps.
The Swindler was like Grease Lightening in removing the bails, amazing that he did not set them on fire! Nottinghamshire 192-9, and all out as Martindale was unable to resume his innings, but thankfully he appears OK, but will have to miss a few days cricket in line with protocol.
Nat Bowley bowling a magnificent spell, 15.1-2-47-5. Career best figures for the lean, mean, lithesome Loughburian, who bowled beautifully, excellent controlled bowling, with variation, which was right ‘on the money’. Leicestershire holding a first innings lead of 145 runs. Also, Ed Barnes was somewhat unfortunate not to record a 5-fer, as he had a chance spilled in the gully during his second spell. Barnes returning innings figures of 15-3-34-4.
15 overs remained in the day for Leicestershire to negotiate. Hassan Azad (8) 12b went caught at the wicket by Schadendorf off Peirce. Sam Evans (18*) 37b, and Rishi Patel (17*) 41b safely took County into stumps on 44-1, leading by 189 runs going into day three.
Leicestershire 6 points, Nottinghamshire 3 points. During the final 15 overs of the day, my phone kept ‘pinging’ with newsflashes, it transpired that we had lost more Cabinet members than wickets during the final 65 minutes of play!
A full scorecard of the fixture can be viewed HERE.
